Stat!Ref Access Issue on UTORcwn
If users complain of not being able to access Stat!Ref resources from our wireless network, let then know we have informed the people at Stat!Ref and they are working on it.
Wireless networks rely on many IP addresses to allow users access.
This year we have added many new IP addresses which had to be forwarded on to our licenced resource providers.
If the provider has not yet added them and a user gets on our wireless with one of those new numbers, the user will be unable to connect to that resource.
We've seen this with 3 providers this year so far. And what a user sees in this scenario is a logon prompt instead of just getting into the e-resource.
Messages and news about public equipment at Gerstein Science Information Centre.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Gerstein Network Cable Access Problems
Because of our ongoing wireless problems i've suggested using network cables as an alternative.
But some of the sockets the network cables plug into are not working.
In our new Gerstein Reading Room only the first two tables to the left as you walk in from the north side of the room are working.
In the Morrison Pavilion I think there are a small number of the sockets that aren't working...so ask users to try another socket or table.
Oct 30 - I just got an update today that ITS/CNS are aware of the problem and will fix asap
Because of our ongoing wireless problems i've suggested using network cables as an alternative.
But some of the sockets the network cables plug into are not working.
In our new Gerstein Reading Room only the first two tables to the left as you walk in from the north side of the room are working.
In the Morrison Pavilion I think there are a small number of the sockets that aren't working...so ask users to try another socket or table.
Oct 30 - I just got an update today that ITS/CNS are aware of the problem and will fix asap
Labels:
docking ports,
ethernet cable,
internet cable,
laptop,
network cable,
notebook,
utorcwn,
wifi,
wireless
Monday, October 20, 2008
Refworks Errors
I have two students trying to complete their papers and both are getting a variety of "errors were encountered while processing your file" messages.
M. Vandenburg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two very common mistakes can kill the Write-N-Cite processing function:
1. Adding additional information to the encoded citations (e.g. page numbers).
If you want to add information, use the "Edit citation" function.
2. Adding citations manually, if you are using a footnote or endnote system.
Either or both of these will stop the processing of a bibliography, resulting in an error message.
W. Badke
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forwarded by Sian Meikle from an OCUL-Refworks mailing list at U of Waterloo - Oct. 20, 2008
I have two students trying to complete their papers and both are getting a variety of "errors were encountered while processing your file" messages.
M. Vandenburg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two very common mistakes can kill the Write-N-Cite processing function:
1. Adding additional information to the encoded citations (e.g. page numbers).
If you want to add information, use the "Edit citation" function.
2. Adding citations manually, if you are using a footnote or endnote system.
Either or both of these will stop the processing of a bibliography, resulting in an error message.
W. Badke
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forwarded by Sian Meikle from an OCUL-Refworks mailing list at U of Waterloo - Oct. 20, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Problem with OvidSP Medline Search Button
A few of us have noticed that the "Search" button in Medline is sometimes unusable. (disabled)
If you experience this problem the "Search" button would appear greyed out, and clicking on it would do nothing.
Technical staff at Ovid have been contacted and are looking into it.
Try using the back button on your browser to 'enable' the Search button again. (you may lose some of your search data by doing this)
If you notice anything that might help us figure out why it is occurring...or 'when' it occurs, please let Elena or myself know.
A few of us have noticed that the "Search" button in Medline is sometimes unusable. (disabled)
If you experience this problem the "Search" button would appear greyed out, and clicking on it would do nothing.
Technical staff at Ovid have been contacted and are looking into it.
Try using the back button on your browser to 'enable' the Search button again. (you may lose some of your search data by doing this)
If you notice anything that might help us figure out why it is occurring...or 'when' it occurs, please let Elena or myself know.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Gerstein Wireless Issue - intermittent or weak connections
If users complain of low or no wireless connection in our building, and it has worked fine for them in the past, please direct them to one of these locations:
So you could also offer to loan them one of our cables. (there's some at both the infodesk and loan services desk)
I've just begun testing this and can only say for certain that some of the wireless areas in our building are not working as well as they should...and some laptops work better in these areas than others.
The main problem areas were the long hallway sections of the Morrison Pavilion study space. (which is a huge portion of that study space)
If users complain of low or no wireless connection in our building, and it has worked fine for them in the past, please direct them to one of these locations:
1. the octagon portion of the Morrison Pavilion.Using network cables to connect is a good alternative for the problem areas.
2. the new reference room
3. another building
So you could also offer to loan them one of our cables. (there's some at both the infodesk and loan services desk)
I've just begun testing this and can only say for certain that some of the wireless areas in our building are not working as well as they should...and some laptops work better in these areas than others.
The main problem areas were the long hallway sections of the Morrison Pavilion study space. (which is a huge portion of that study space)
Thursday, September 25, 2008
E-book Issues from Knovel and MyiLibrary
If someone is trying to access an ebook from the Knovel distributor from our public pcs, they should use Firefox instead of IE. If one uses IE, the pdfs they click on open a blank window prompting the user to "Download File" first. This has confused some users and they think the ebooks are inaccessible.
The problem does not occur on our staff pcs.
A slightly different issue with MyiLibrary ebooks is also causing some problems.
The increased usage of ebooks has triggered alarms at publishers and they have mistakenly tagged some ebooks as inaccessible.
Users may see a popup that says "Warning! The selected title is temporarily locked":

I've only seen one incident of this with the title "Neuroendocrinology: An Integrated Approach" and have heard of no resolution, but that Ingram/Coutts who own MyiLibrary are working on a solution.
If someone is trying to access an ebook from the Knovel distributor from our public pcs, they should use Firefox instead of IE. If one uses IE, the pdfs they click on open a blank window prompting the user to "Download File" first. This has confused some users and they think the ebooks are inaccessible.
The problem does not occur on our staff pcs.
A slightly different issue with MyiLibrary ebooks is also causing some problems.
The increased usage of ebooks has triggered alarms at publishers and they have mistakenly tagged some ebooks as inaccessible.
Users may see a popup that says "Warning! The selected title is temporarily locked":
I've only seen one incident of this with the title "Neuroendocrinology: An Integrated Approach" and have heard of no resolution, but that Ingram/Coutts who own MyiLibrary are working on a solution.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Problem with OSAP forms not opening for public computers.
If users complain of not being able to open an OSAP document on the web, please tell them to use Firefox instead of IE.
When they use Firefox they will still need to be observant of a light yellow horizontal bar at the top of the page that appears when trying to access OSAP documents.
Clicking the button on the right hand side of the bar will permit them to choose "allow popup".
Once they do that they should see the small login prompt form the OSAP page. If not, minimize Firefox, because the popup may be behind the Firefox window.
If users complain of not being able to open an OSAP document on the web, please tell them to use Firefox instead of IE.
When they use Firefox they will still need to be observant of a light yellow horizontal bar at the top of the page that appears when trying to access OSAP documents.
Clicking the button on the right hand side of the bar will permit them to choose "allow popup".
Once they do that they should see the small login prompt form the OSAP page. If not, minimize Firefox, because the popup may be behind the Firefox window.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
All public PCs in the building have had their annual upgrade from the Information Commons staff.
This happens every year and usually consists of small changes such as upgrades to important Internet plugins like Java, Flash etc.
One of the two most significant changes is an upgrade to Internet Explorer 7, from version 6. However the change is mostly visual and should not cause any confusion. We still have version 6 on our staff machines.
The other change is regarding the computers going into sleep mode.
After 60 minutes the computer goes into sleep mode and can only be brought out of it by pressing the power button once. You cannot use the old way of hitting any key on the keyboard or moving the mouse.
As always...call me for help.
This happens every year and usually consists of small changes such as upgrades to important Internet plugins like Java, Flash etc.
One of the two most significant changes is an upgrade to Internet Explorer 7, from version 6. However the change is mostly visual and should not cause any confusion. We still have version 6 on our staff machines.
The other change is regarding the computers going into sleep mode.
After 60 minutes the computer goes into sleep mode and can only be brought out of it by pressing the power button once. You cannot use the old way of hitting any key on the keyboard or moving the mouse.
As always...call me for help.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Wireless - User Connection Problems
User complains that their laptop was connecting fine before, but now it is not.
SOLUTION: Delete the existing wireless profile and create it again.
-this problem occurs frequently, and the solution works most of the time
-often misinterpreted as a network problem
-always send the user to Jeff, Dana, or the Information Commons if they need/want help
User complains that their laptop was connecting fine before, but now it is not.
SOLUTION: Delete the existing wireless profile and create it again.
-this problem occurs frequently, and the solution works most of the time
-often misinterpreted as a network problem
-always send the user to Jeff, Dana, or the Information Commons if they need/want help
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)